THE JAYNE MANSFIELD STORY

US, 1980, 100 minutes, Colour.
Loni Anderson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathleen Lloyd, G.D.Spradlin, Raymond Buktenica.
Directed by Dick Lowry.

The Jayne Mansfield Story is and interesting telemovie. It recapitulates the life and career of the blonde bombshell once considered the rival to Marilyn Monroe but who never quite made it. There are references to her background, her career, marriages and motherhood, her relationship with Mike Hargitay and the break from him, her skill at publicity, her living her image Beyond its popularity and, her decline as well as her tragic death. The film seems to keep to the main aspects of her life with some sense of accuracy.

Loni Anderson (WRRP, Sizzle, Stand On It) gives a very good impersonation of Jayne Mansfield - both her image as well the reality behind it. Arnold Schwarzenegger is ideally suited to the role of Mike Hargitay. G. D. Spradlin is excellent as a sinister head of the company. The film has atmosphere, uses some footage of the times, tries to explain the '50s situation where Jayne could either have had success as a sex symbol or as a star. It is a variation on the Hollywood star is born theme.

Direction is by Dick Lowry who made a number of telemovies.

1. Audience interest in and knowledge of Jayne Mansfield? Her impact in the 50S and 60S? Her film career? The popularity of the Hollywood biography? The quality of this biography in terms of facts, interpretation?

2. The atmosphere of the '50s and '60s? Dallas and the Texas life style, Jayne's lifestyle, nightclubs and Las Vegas? The impact of her death at beginning and end? Songs, musical score?

3. The portrait of Jayne Mansfield - her working in Dallas, the story of the death of her father and her grief, her need for love, her early marriage, her love for her daughter and' bringing, her up, her friendship with Carole Sue, the publicity stunts with the gorilla, her going into Bob Garrett's office, the failure at the audition with Come Back Little Sheba, her putting on her simpering voice and squeal, dyeing her hair, it being part of her image? not to be able to swim at the promotion of the film, Underwater, the photographers and the interviews, her ability to grab headlines, photos? New York and her performance in 'Rock Hunter'? The deal with Hollywood, the pressure of Gerald Conway, her films and their lack of success, her public and her love of her public? The use of pink for publicity? The encounter with Mike at Mae West's show, their lyrical falling in love, the relationship for many years, the marriage? Conway's pressure against Mike? Her having to wait for roles, the deception about the Jean Harlow film? Her missing out on opportunities? Her pregnancy, having the baby - with publicity? The publicity with her marriage - and its after-effect on Mike and his resentment? Her continued drifting, the clashes? The offer for the topless nightclub in San Francisco? Her break on the road in nightclubs and the sleazy atmosphere? Her phone call to Mike before her death? An unfulfilled career? What motivated her? Being a star, being loved? her total self-absorption? Her being swallowed up by her image?

4. Mike Hargitay and his memoirs, the interviews, the voice-over commentary about Jayne? His background, his work in the Mae West show, bodybuilding equipment and television advertising, falling in love with Jayne, the sequences together, helping her with her career, with her contract, with her home? Jayne really liking him? The build-up to the wedding and its showiness? The birth of the child, the break-up of the marriage?

5. The presentation of the Hollywood studios - Gerald Conway and his controlling Bob Garrett, his love of publicity, the lies about the Harlow film? The ruthlessness of Hollywood moguls?

6. Bob Garrett and Jayne, being taken by her, becoming her agent, friendship, promoting her, the deals, his own success, her break with him? The final meeting?

7. Jayne Marie and her love for her mother, being brought up by her, the praise of her mother as a star? The criticisms of people and Jayne Marie's reaction? The growing distance between mother and daughter? The grown-up Jayne Marie and her resentment of her mother? Carole Sue and her friendship, coming to work for Jayne, the continued support,

8. The '50s and the attitudes towards towards film stars like Monroe and inserts about Marilyn's marriage, the success, the difficulties with the studio, her suicide.

9. The variation on the 'star is born' theme: the artificiality of Jayne's life and its tragic consequences?